Prensa

01. August 2017

Fighting microplastics

GKD: partner of a research project focusing on the environmental impact of tire wear

Microplastics are a global environmental problem that travels through the food chain and ends up on our plates. Around a third of the tiny particles are caused by tire wear that is washed into the sewers by rainwater. Because sewage treatment plants currently cannot filter out the microscopic plastic particles, they enter the sea via canals and rivers. There they are consumed by fishes, mussels or birds with their food. Therefore, protagonists in science and industry worldwide are urgently working on researching solutions that would prevent the particles from entering waters. GKD – GEBR. KUFFERATH AG (GKD) is also contributing toward these efforts: the Parliamentary State Secretary for the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Thomas Rachel, has now presented the technical weavers in Düren with funding of approximately €185,000 for the research project Tire debris in the environment.